Rolando Meza Espinoza, 35
Jersey city, New JerseyJune 10, 2017

Overview

35 year-old Rolando Meza Espinoza, arrested in a case of mistaken identity, died in the custody of US immigration and Customs Enforcement after being held for several months.

Espinoza was arrested by ICE agents at his worksite on Long Island in March and detained in Kearny, NJ according to Manuel Portela, attorney for Meza Espinoza's family.

Espinoza spoke with lawyers who reviewed ICE documents and found that a case of mistaken identity had taken place. A photo which agents had to identify Espinoza did not resemble him, his lawyer said.

Espinoza’s lawyers had scheduled a June 8 hearing for possible release, but Espinoza’s health had already deteriorated due to what his lawyer said was inadequate care. He was sent to Jersey City Medical Center's intensive care unit because of "gastrointestinal bleeding" on June 8 and died two days later. His family did not find out until June 12 when they called to check on him, according to Portela.